Customs agents may be based ‘on the border’ with Northern Ireland – with gardai and soldiers also present to provide security

An Oireachtas body that has huge sway with the Government says they could return if the UK leaves the EU on March 29 without a deal

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Kieran Dineen

17 Feb 2019, 8:45

Updated: 17 Feb 2019, 11:39

CUSTOMS agents may be based “on the ­border” with Northern Ireland after Brexit, TDs have been told.

An Oireachtas body that has huge sway with the Government says they could return if the UK leaves the EU on March 29 ­without a deal.

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Customs checks being carried out on the border in the 80sCredit: Pacemaker Press

Up to now Ministers have flatly refused to say how checks will take place if ­British MPs don’t agree a plan.

But if there are Revenue agents on the border, then it is likely that gardai and ­soldiers would also be present to ­provide security.

Last month Taoiseach Leo Varadkar claimed in the Dail: “We’re not planning for checks along the land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. Nor are we planning for checks in the sea.”

And Agriculture Minister Michael Creed refused five times to say where checks could take place when pressed by RTE host Audrey Carville, who blasted him for treating listeners as “stupid”.

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A former customs hut is seen behind a Brexit sign between the Donegal/Derry borderCredit: Reuters

But Leo’s claims appear to be rebuffed in the ­Parliamentary ­Budget Office’s latest report.

They offer “independent and impartial information” and “financial and ­budgetary intelligence” to TDs and Senators.

Their report states: “A no-deal Brexit could lead to Irish and UK border inspectors / customs officers on the Border.”

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It’s been reported customs posts could be set up in ­locations away from the actual border.

But the PBO appears to debunk this as it cites an article by The London School of Economics and Political Science that says: “The further from a border they are deployed the more resource-intensive and less efficient they are — particularly if operating without first-level controls at the border.”

The PBO says a no-deal exit “will likely have an immediate and detrimental impact on the economy” — with GDP growth down up to three per cent on an “orderly Brexit”.